Spruce Up the Brown Bag

Overview

It's called a brown-bag lunch, though these days most brown-bag lunches are actually carried inside lunchboxes of all varieties -- embellished, insulated, whimsical, plastic. But whatever name it goes by, packing it is a daily chore for most moms of schoolchildren. And, yes, the kids really do get bored with the same old stuff every day. Make it fun for you and your children by adding a few surprises now and then.

Chocolate Kisses

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Bury some kisses -- the chocolate kind -- under that PB&J for your child to find at lunchtime. Chocolate makes everyone feel good. Those surprise kisses will put a smile on his face for the rest of the day and tell him you're thinking of him even when he's not with you.

Leave a Note

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Almost nobody actually writes notes anymore. But that nearly lost form of communication is so personal -- and so portable. Take a few minutes and jot down a few lines to your child. They can be funny or loving, whichever fits your personality and mood. You just might find that note among your child's keepsakes many years from now.

Chocolate Milk

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Yum! Whoever heard of a kid who doesn't love chocolate milk, who doesn't beg for the stuff on every trip to the grocery store? Surprise her with a half-pint carton in her lunch and you're sure to get gushing thank-yous when she gets home from school.

Tiny Toy

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Whether it's an action figure, miniature vehicle or stuffed animal, finding a tiny toy treat along with a banana and a sandwich makes the day a good one for your child. These give a lot of bang for the buck, and no child ever has too many. It's their kind of collectible.

Penny Candy

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Pieces of penny candy floating around in the lunchbox with fruit, a sandwich, yogurt and cookies is sure to bring smiles -- and it's so easy to share with friends. Your kids and their friends will be thinking, "Aw, what a mom!"

Baseball Cards

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Many boys -- and quite a few girls, too -- can't get enough of these childhood collecting-and-trading essentials. Plus, the gum is a nice side benefit. If you really want to do something special, put some vintage ones -- either their daddy's or ones you found online -- in the lunchbox for a super-special treat.

Movie Tickets

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Fridays are a good time to drop in a couple of movie tickets for a Saturday afternoon show your kids have been hounding you to see. It gives them something to look forward to, and they can share one of the tickets with a friend. What's more, you've just made their weekend a fun one.

Beads

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Little girls love to play dress up, and of course that involves some serious jewelry. Mommy can help the cause with a small gift of plastic or metal beads that shows up inside the lunchbox one special afternoon. Your little miss will know exactly what she's doing right after school -- high heels, lipstick and all.

About the Author

Suzanne Topham got her first newsroom job as an editor in the '70s. She spent most of her career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where she was a copy desk chief for the features and national/foreign desks and a travel and style reporter. She also pioneered the position of A1 editor at the Post-Dispatch. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.